Media Advisory - Rally at North York Hospital as Staff Wait While CEO pockets
$2.3 Million

NORTH YORK, ON, April 29 /CNW/ - Staff and patients said they plan to protest at North York General Hospital today over frontline healthcare workers being made to wait for a contract while the the CEO pockets $2.3-million, according to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Hospital staff submitted proposals last year to improve quality of care and increase safety for visitors by making sure patients get the right nurse at the right time and that Registered Practical Nurses have an early warning system to use when patients are at risk.

But the Ontario Hospitals Association (OHA) has been stalling frontline staff since August 2009, while the pay of CEO of North York General has climbed above half-a-million dollars. Bonnie Adamson's compensation as CEO has jumped 22 per cent in the last five years to $508,000, meaning she has pocketed $2.3 million since 2005.

Protesters will call for CEO pay to be capped and urge the OHA to reach an agreement with members of SEIU Local 1 and deliver signed postcards demanding patients get the right nurse at the right time. Staff and patients have already delivered about 5,000 signed postcards to hospital executives across Ontario urging an end to delays.

    
    Where: North York General Hospital
           4001 Leslie Street
           Toronto, Ontario
           M2K 1E1

    When:  Thursday, April 29, 2010

    Time:  12 noon
    

SEIU Local 1 represents 46,000 healthcare workers in Ontario

For further information: Pat Chastang, Media Relations, SEIU Canada, [phone]